“The next six months have got to be the greatest six months of development that we’ve ever, ever had to close that gap. To be really banging on the door,” says Lewis Hamilton after a sobering Suzuka weekend for Mercedes; Hamilton says McLaren’s resurgence reveals Mercedes “the direction”

Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes have to ship the “greatest six months of development that we’ve ever had” if they’re to combat with constructors’ champions Red Bull from the beginning of subsequent season.

Hamilton mentioned he has “absolute faith” the staff may obtain the feat amid the continuing growth of what they’ve already confirmed can be a much-changed 2024 automotive following two seasons of Red Bull domination.

But the seven-time champion, who completed what was a hard-fought however distant fifth in Sunday’s Japanese GP, underlined that the problem forward was a giant one.

Explaining how he and George Russell are taking part in their half in serving to Mercedes’ growth path, Hamilton informed Sky Sports F1: “There are things that I’ve asked for that we’ve gone in part of the direction for next year.

“I believe all of the factors that George and I give have been totally listened to.

“I have no idea where the car is going to be next year but we are a long, long way away.

“The subsequent six months have gotten to be the best six months of growth that we have ever, ever needed to shut that hole. To be actually banging on the door.”

McLaren’s surge reveals ‘the route’ for 2024 positive aspects

Hamilton additionally mentioned Mercedes may study classes from the gorgeous resurgence in McLaren’s kind displayed throughout the course of this season.

McLaren made a dismal begin to 2023 in the direction of the again of the sphere however in-season adjustments to their automotive – which have introduced them extra into line with Red Bull’s growth philosophy – have labored wonders. Armed with contemporary upgrades from Singapore final week, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri completed in robust second and third locations at Suzuka behind Max Verstappen in Sunday’s race.

Speaking about his previous staff, Hamilton added: “The evidence is there at the McLarens and we can’t turn a blind eye to that. We’ve got to look at what they’ve done and go in that direction. That is the direction.

“But I really imagine my staff can do it.

“We’ve always been great at putting downforce on the car, it’s just that with the way our car currently works, adding downforce isn’t working – it just makes it bounce more.

“Hopefully with the change in philosophy we can be again to the place this staff deserve as a result of it is a world championship staff. We nonetheless are a tremendous staff and I’ve absolute religion in everybody. But choices which are made in this time period are important for our trajectory.”

Hamilton reflects on action-packed run to fifth

Hamilton was speaking at the end of what he admitted had been an “exhausting” race, with the Mercedes driver rarely out of the thick of battle across the 53 laps.

He picked up car damage at the start following contact from Sergio Perez and then twice had to fight off the advances of Russell inside the opening 20 laps as the team-mates engaged in thrilling wheel-to-wheel duels.

After Russell eventually got ahead by dint of a one-stop strategy, Hamilton caught him back up on fresher tyres after his second stop and was eventually let back through as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz piled on the pressure behind and Mercedes’ drivers each debated strategy options with the team over the radio.

“Giving it completely every part,” said Hamilton. “But it is powerful on weekends like this notably the place the automotive is such a handful. Basically the very same as final 12 months, so feeling-wise the automotive felt simply the identical as final 12 months, bouncing and sliding.

“So that’s tough given how much work we have done to progress and we are not any closer to the front, at least here.

“But we did get forward of one of many Ferraris which is nice staff work and nice work from the blokes within the pit cease and with technique.

“A long way to go.”

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